Towns of Sheffield, New Marlborough, and Sandisfield, MA

Rural Dirt Road Vulnerability Assessment

BSC Group conducted a regional vulnerability assessment of rural dirt roads for the Towns of Sheffield, New Marlborough, and Sandisfield, MA. Within the context of climate resilience, the team assessed road conditions and vulnerabilities. The project sought to better understand the challenges that are expected as a result of exacerbated roadway infrastructure due to increasingly frequent and extreme climate exposure.

BSC also completed GIS and field-based road assessments to develop a novel dirt road vulnerability and criticality methodology, which will be adopted by other local communities in the future.

A pilot study was conducted on Weatogue Road, including a site survey, hydraulic and permitting assessments, and design of best management practices with the inclusion of Nature-based Solutions.